Tur Even Haezer – With Beis Yosef, Venice 1565. Rare Edition Printed During Lifetime of the Mechaber

Tur Even Haezer – With Beis Yosef, Venice 1565. Rare Edition Printed During Lifetime of the Mechaber

Rare edition of the Tur on Even Haezer with Beis Yosef, printed during the lifetime of the Mechaber – R. Yosef Karo. This edition is considered the most accurate of all editions printed while the Mechaber was still alive, as it was re-edited and corrected by R. Shmuel of Padua before it was brought to print. In his preface, he writes that unlike Yoreh De’ah which he edited quickly, Even Haezer was edited and corrected in a meticulous manner, to clear it from all previous errors. Likewise, the introduction of R. Yaakov Ba’al HaTurim – which was omitted from the first edition, was returned in this edition. Interestingly, the title page of this edition states that the Mechaber is a “Reish Mesivta B’Kiryas Tzfas”, whereas the first Sabbioneta edition makes no mention of Tzfas. The layout and typeset of this edition are identical to the first edition which was printed in 1553. Every single aspect is exactly as found in the first edition - including the same Tzuras Hadaf, as well as the opening floral woodcut seen on the first page of the work. The only difference is that this edition is more accurate, since the mistakes of the first edition were finally corrected. 

Printed during the year “Od Yosef Karo Chai”, which adds up to the numerical value of 5325 (1565), using the letter Samech of “Yosef” and “Karo Chai”. Presumably, the printers chose this method of displaying the print year to show that this edition was printed at the direction of the author, during his lifetime. Moreover, this was perhaps a clever way to differentiate this edition with the competing 1565 edition which was released concurrently by the Di Gara press in Venice. However, unlike this edition, it was nothing but a reprint of the first edition, with no particular advantages, corrections or additions.

The final leaf contains a poem written by the Magiah, R. Shmuel of Padua, in honor of the work. 

A scarce edition, rarely seen at auction. Printed at the printing press of Giorgio di Cavalli in Venice, one of the first printers to begin printing Hebrew books after the burning of Hebrew books in Venice in 1553. It features his unique printer’s emblem depicting an elephant with a castle on its back. Beneath the elephant is Cavalli’s motto – in Latin: “Tarde sed tuto” – “slowly but surely”. 

Unfortunately, Cavalli’s success with Hebrew books did not last long, as hundreds of copies of his Hebrew imprints were burned in Venice in 1568, ultimately resulting in the closure of his business. As a result, Hebrew books printed by Cavalli are very rare in comparison to other Hebrew books printed in Venice during this time. 

In excellent condition, printed on white paper. Some headers slightly cropped. Previous ownership inscriptions seen on title page. Bound in an early 19th century binding. 

Page size: 32.5cm

[1], 2-232 pp.